Hoist for shipping containers

ABSTRACT

The hoist of a transporter crane for loading and unloading containerships is provided with hoisting cables that may be shifted transversely for lifting either a single container or two containers attached to separate lifting frames in end-to-end relationship. This permits two containers to be lifted simultaneously from compartments separated by a bulkhead.

United States Patent Inventor Hans Tax Potsdamer Strasse 3. 8 Munich 13, Germany Appl. No. 760,230 Filed Sept. 17, 1968 Patented June 8, 1971 Priority Sept. 26, 1967 Germany P 15 31 273.9

I'IOIST FOR SHIPPING CONTAINERS 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 212/15, 212/74,214/14 lnt.C1 1366c 5/02 Field of Search ..294/67.4 A, 81, 81 SF;214/15,14;212/14,15, 73, 74,128, 129

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,983,053 12/1934 Spiegl 294/67(.4A) 2,063,910 12/1936 Fitch 212/14 3,077,992 2/1963 Bevaro 214/15 X 2,701,065 1/1955 Bertel 212/11 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,207,405 9/1959 France 214/15 642,908 6/1962 ltaly 212/15 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Att0rney- Low and Berman ABSTRACT: The hoist of a transporter crane for loading and unloading containerships is provided with hoisting cables that may be shifted transversely for lifting either a single container or two containers attached to separate lifting frames in end-toend relationship. This permits two containers to be lifted simultaneously from compartments separated by a bulkhead.

PATENTEUJUH 8|97I SHEET 2 [IF 3 HOIS'I' FOR SHIPPING CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the loading and unloading of containerships, and particularly to a hoist arrangement on a transporter crane Suitable for such loading and unloading.

Transporter cranes for transferring containers to and from containerships should be capable of handling more than one container at a time while suspended from the same cab or trolley in order to hasten the loading or unloading operation. The containers are attached to lifting frames while being raised and lowered, and lifting frames dimensioned to be simultaneously attached to two containers have been used heretofore in order to increase the rate ofcrane operation.

The lifting frame is attached directly to each container, and it is not possible simultaneously to lift two containers by means of the same lifting frame if they are initially located in two compartments of a containership separated by a bulkhead, nor is it possible to lower two containers on a common lifting frame into two such compartments.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a hoisting arrangement on a transporter crane capable of simultaneously lifting two containers from ship compartments separated by a bulkhead, and jointly to transfer them to a pier site, and of similarly loading two containers, without disturbing their spatial relationship during the lifting, lowering, and transferring operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an improvement in a known transporter crane equipped with a horizontally extending boom, a trolley movable along the boom between a position above a pier and a position above a containership moored to the pier, and a hoist arrangement on the trolley. The hoist arrangement includes steel cables or other tension members which depend from the trolley and are spaced from each other. The cables are retracted or let out by means ofwinches on the trolley and are equipped with hooks, pulleys, or like engaging devices which may be attached to a lifting frame or other container carrier.

According to the instant invention, several guide arrangements are provided on the trolley and engage the cables for guiding the same in respective vertically extending paths. A shifting mechanism permits the guide arrangements to be moved toward and away from each other transversely of the cable paths, whereby these paths are shifted, preferably while maintaining the location of a median plane of symmetry jointly defined by the several cable paths. The shifting of the guide arrangements permits either one or two containers to be suspended from the trolley on respective cables which do not collide with a bulkhead during simultaneous lowering or lifting of two containers into or from locations on opposite sides of the bulkhead.

For simplicity of operation, a single shifting member is movably mounted on the trolley, and motion transmitting elements are operatively interposed between the shifting member and two of the guide arrangements for simultaneously moving the latter toward each other and the median plane when the shifting member is moved in one direction, and for simultaneously moving the two guide arrangements away from each other and from the median plane when the shifting member moves in the opposite direction.

Other features, additional objects, and many of the attendant advantages ofthis invention will readily be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when considered in connection with the attached drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing: FIG. I shows a containership unloading station in elevation; FIG. 2 shows the station of FIG. I in plan view;

FIG. 3 shows a portion of a crane in the station of FIGS. l and 2 in an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrows III-Ill in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the device of FIG. 3 in a different operating position;

FIGS shows a modification ofthe device of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the modified device of FIG. 5 in an operating position corresponding to that of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to FIGS. I and 2, there is seen a harbor basin in which a containership 10 is moored. Only the containers I2 loaded on the deck of the ship 10 are seen, but it will be understood that the holds of the ship are filled with similar containers. A mast I4 extends upward from the deck of the ship forward of the loading area, and other elements of the ship projecting far upward from the deck are relegated to the stern behind the loading area.

The ship 10 stands alongside a pier 18 provided with rails 16 for a transporter crane 20. Respective upright frames 22 ofthe crane move along the rails I6 and support a horizontal boom 24 which partly extends over the pier I8 and partly over the ship 10. A cab or trolley 26 travels along the boom.

As is better seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the trolley 26 has a supporting frame 28 suspended from wheels 30 which roll on the boom 24 and are driven in a conventional manner, not illustrated. The structure described so far is basically known.

Guide rails or tracks 32 are integral elements ofthe supporting frame 28 and extend horizontally at right angles to the direction of trolley movement or longitudinally of the containers I2 on the ship I0. The rail 32 at the front end of the trolley 26 and visible in the drawing carries two winch units 34 respectively suspended from carriages 36 which travel along the rail 32. The illustrated rail and winch structure is duplicated at the rear end of the trolley 26, but is obscured in the views of FIGS. 3 and 4.

The trolley 26 and the operating elements supported thereon are normally symmetrically arranged relative to a vertical median plane at right angles to the plane of FIGS. 3 and 4. The two carriages 36 are shifted on the rail 32 symmetrically toward and away from each other and the median plane by means ofa spindle 38 journaled in the frame 28 and parallel to the rail 32. The spindle 38 has right-handed and lefthanded threads on its two axial end portions respectively which matingly engage internal threads in the carriages 36. When the enlarged, smoothly cylindrical center portion of the spindle 38 is turned by hand or by a nonillustrated conventional motor drive, the two winch units 34 move relative to each other while maintaining the location of the median plane of symmetry ofthe apparatus.

Each winch unit 34 consists of a synchronous electric gear motor, not shown in detail, and a cable drum 40 which guides a hoisting cable 42 into a vertical path. The location of the cable 42 may be shifted by moving the carriage 36 on the rail 32, and such movement is limited to the space between fixed frame elements at the ends of the rail 32 as is evident from FIG. 3 and by abutting engagement of the two carriages 36, as seen in FIG. 4.

In the condition of the apparatus seen in FIG. 3, each cable 42 is trained over a pulley 46 attached to a corresponding longitudinal end portion of a carrier or lifting frame 48, and its free end 44 is hooked to the bottom of the trolley frame 28 above the pulley 46. Quickly releasable conventional couplings 50 attach a container I2 to the frame 48.

A second winch units 52 mounted on the frame 28 and shown retracted in FIG. 3 is better seen in FIG. 4 which shows the second set ofwinch units in the operative position.

Each unit is mounted on the free end ofa carrier arm 54 attached to the frame 28 by a pivot whose horizontal axis is parallel to the direction of trolley movement. The winch units 52, being mounted on opposite sides of the trolley 26, thus can swing toward and away from each other and the median plane of symmetry of the apparatus in a common vertical plane with the winch units 34. A folding bracket 56 holds the carrier arm 54 in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4, but may be swung out of the way to permit the winch unit 52 to be lowered into the inoperative position seen in FIG. 3.

A hoisting cable 58 depending from the winch unit 52 is guided in its vertical path by the cable drum 60 of the unit and is trained over a pulley 62. The end of the cable 58 remote from the drum 60 is attached to the frame of the winch unit 52. In the inoperative condition of the winch unit seen in FIG. 3, the pulley 62 is freely suspended from the cable 58. In the operative condition shown in FIG. 4, the pulley 62 fixedly en' gages a longitudinal end portion of an associated carrier or lifting frame 48a, 48!) supporting a corresponding container 1211,12b by means ofcouplings 50.

The hoist arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is suitable for lifting and lowering a single container 12 or for simultaneously handling two containers I211, I2b on respective lifting frames 48a, 48b. When only one container 12 is to be transported, the arm 54 and brackets 56 are folded away, as shown in FIG. 3, and the cable guiding drums 40 are shifted as far apart as the frame 28 permits. The two pulleys 46 are engaged with the two longitudinal ends of the lifting frame 48 in a known manner, not illustrated in detail, while the frame is attached to a container 12, and the container may then be transported in the usual manner by the crane 20.

When the hoist arrangement is desired to load or unload simultaneously two containers I2a, 12b equipped with lifting frames 48a, 48b while in end-to-end relationship, the winch units 34 are moved toward each other as far as possible, and the winch units 52 are swung upward into their operative position. The two pulleys 46 are attached to the respective adjacent ends of the frames 4811,4812, and the pulleys 62 to the remote ends. The several synchronous motors of the winch units are then energized as needed to lift or lower the containers, and the troll 26 is moved along the boom 24. While the containers I211, 12!) clear bulkheads in the ship I2 or similar obstacles, they may be linked to each other by latches 64 for greater stability.

The pulleys 46, 60 are attached to the frames 48a, 48b near the longitudinal walls of the frames facing the viewer, a duplicate set of winch units, cables, and pulleys is connected in the same manner to the opposite longitudinal walls of the containers so that each frame is supported on four cables.

The mechanism which swings the arms 54in unison has not been illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. It may consist of a spindle identical, except for dimensions, with the spindle 38 described with reference to FIG. 3, and matingly engaging inner threads on the pivots at the elbow joints of the folding brackets 56. Either spindle may be replaced by a hydraulic jack in an obvi ous manner.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is capable of quick conversion from one-conatainer to two-container operation by simply shifting both sets of winch units 34, 52 between the positions of FIGS. 3 and 4. At least some of the advantages ofthis invention are still available when a single set of winch units is fixedly mounted as is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 in views corresponding respectively to those of FIGS. 3 and 4. Only the portions of the hoisting arrangement associated with the longitudinal wall of the container or containers facing the viewer are illustrated and obscure another identical set ofelements connected to the side ofthe container or containers not seen in the drawing, as described above. The description will be limited to the explicitly shown devices.

The boom I24 partly seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 is identical with that seen in FIGS. I to 4, and the supporting frame 128 ofthe trolley mounted on the boom I24 by means of wheels I30 is changed only as needed to support the modified hoisting arrangement. The latter includes two winch units 170 equipped with drums 172, each dimensioned for winding two hoisting cables.

In the condition ofthe apparatus seen in FIG. 5, a cable I74 has one of its ends wound on the drum I72 while the other end 176 is attached to the underside of the frame I28 above the corresponding longitudinal end of the associated lifting frame I48 engaged by the bracket of a pulley I78 over which the cable I74 is trained. The second cable I80 wound on the drum 172 has a free end I82 attached to the underside of the trolley frame 128 above the end of the lifting frame 148 and is trained over a pulley I84 at that end.

Each corner of the rectangular lifting frame I48 is thus suspended from two cables I74, I80 guided into their vertical paths by the drums 172 when the apparatus is in the condition of FIG. 5 in which it is set to carry but one container.

As is better seen in FIG. 6, the frame I28 also carries elements, which are idle in the condition of FIG. 5. They include two deflecting pulleys I86 on the underside of the trolley frame I28 near the median plane of symmetry on either side of that plane, two carrier arms or beam 188, and pulleys I90 on the free ends ofthe arms 188. The arms I88 slide in a common guide channel in the frame I28. Their telescopic movement inward of the channel from opposite ends is limited by their abutment in the position shown in FIG. 5. Their outward movement is limited by stops, not shown, to the position seen in FIG. 6.

When it is desired to switch from one-container operation, as shown in FIG. 5, to two-container operation, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the pulleys I78, I84 are attached to the lifting frames 148a, I48b near the longitudinal center of each frame. The free end of the cable I74 is detached from the underside of the trolley frame, trained over the deflecting pulley I86, and secured to a fastener I92 on the end ofthe associated lifting frame I48a, I48b near the other frame. The carrier arms 188 are moved outward of the frame I28 as far as possible. The free end of the cable I80 is detached from the underside of the frame 128, trained over the pulley I90 on the free end of the arm I88, and secured to the associated frame I480, I481; at the end thereof remote from the other frame by means of a fastener 194. The frames 148a, I48b may be linked by a latch I64.

The cables are thus guided from the trolley frame I28 to the fasteners I92, I94, which engage the cables to the lifting frames, by the pulleys I86, I90, of which the former is fixedly located on the trolley frame whereas the latter can be shifted by means of the arm I88. The two arms I88 in turn are moved by means ofa spindle, omitted from FIGS. 5 and 6 for the sake ofsimplicity, in a manner obvious from FIG. 3.

When it is desired to revert to single-container operation, the fasteners I92, I94 are loosened, and the weight of the cables I74, I80 and of the pulleys I78, I84 similarly released from the frames 148a, I48b causes the released free ends to rise until they are caught in forked stops I96. The apparatus is then restored to the condition of FIG. 5 in an obvious manner.

If frequent changes between one-container operation and two-container operation occur, it may be more advantageous to leave the free ends of the cables 174, I80 caught in the stops I96 during onecontainer operation, and merely to retract the pulleys I90 on their arms I88 and to attach the pulleys I78, 184 to a single lifting frame I48, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The apparatus shown in FIGS, 5 and 6 may be provided at lower initial cost under otherwise comparable conditions than the device described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, but the latter is usually operated at lower expense for labor.

While pivotally mounted guide arrangements for the cables 58 employed in two-container operation have been shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and telescopically extended arms or beams I88 support the guide pulleys in FIGS. 5 and 6, the two mounting systems are practically equivalent in the apparatus of the invention, and interchangeable. The use of telescopically mounted arms 188 for the winch units 52 and the use of arms 54 and folding brackets 56 for the pulleys I90 are specifically contemplated. Other support systems will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and may be shifted between operative and retracted positions in such a manner as to provide the required, usually uniform distance between the hoisting cables for one-container and two-container operatron.

It is not normally practical to keep the arms 54, 188 in their extended or operative positions when only one container is to be loaded or unloaded at one time. As is evident from FIG. 2, the extended arms would collide with the mast l4 and other superstructure on the containership 12 when the containers l2 nearest the bow or stern are to be transferred.

All illustrated embodiments of the invention may readily be modified for three-point suspension of the load. if so desired, without making any changes in the location and disposition of the cables. in the apparatus seen in FIG. 3, the free ends 44 of the cables 42 on the left side ofthe apparatus, as illustrated, of which only one is visible in the drawing, may be attached to the ends of a centrally supported balance beam whereby three-point suspension of the frame 48 is achieved in a very simple manner. When the same apparatus is operated with two containers, as shown in FIG. 4, the two free ends of the cables 58 on the right side of the Figure are similarly attached to the ends ofa balance beam whose center is attached to the frame 28, whereby both containers 12a, 12b are suspended in three points each.

The apparatus seen in FIG. 5 is similarly modified for threepoint suspension.

What I claim is:

1. In a transporter crane for shipping containers, the crane having a horizontally extending boom, a trolley movable along said boom, and hoist means on the trolley, the hoist means including a plurality of tension members depending from said trolley in spaced relationship, winch means for retracting said members and for letting the same out, and engaging means on each member downwardly spaced from said trolley for engaging a container carrier, the improvement in said hoist means which comprises:

a. two groups of guide means, each including four guide means on said trolley, the guide means of each group extending substantially in a common plane spaced from the other group and being adapted to engage said members for guiding the same in respective vertically extending paths; and

b. shifting means for shifting each of two guide means in each group relative to each other guide means in said group transversely of said paths, and for thereby shifting the associated paths.

2. In a crane as set forth in claim I, said paths jointly defining a vertical median plane, and said shifting means including means for maintaining the location of said median plane during said shifting of said guide means.

3. In a crane as set forth in claim 2, said shifting means including a shifting member movably mounted on said trolley, and motion transmitting means operatively interposed between said shifting member and said two guide means for simultaneously moving said two guide means toward each other and said median plane when said shifting member is moved on said trolley in one direction, and for simultaneously moving said two guide means away from each other and from said median plane when said shifting member is moved in a direction opposite to said one direction.

4. In a crane as set forth in claim 2, said tension members including first and second groups of tension members, and said guide means of each group including first and second sets of guide members respectively engaging the tension members of said groups, two guide members of each set being respectively located on opposite sides of said median plane, whereby each of said two guide members of said first set is associated with one of said two guide members of said second set on the same side of said median plane, first limiting means for limiting movement of each guide member of said first set to a range between a first position adjacent said median plane and a second position remote from said median plane in a predetermined direction, and second limiting means for limiting movement of each guide member of said second set to a range between a first position thereof adjacent said median plane and a second position spaced from the second position of the associated guide member of said first set in said predetermined direction away from said median plane.

5. In a crane as set forth in claim 4, the first position of said guide member of said second set being offset from the first position ofthe associated guide member ofsaid first set in said predetermined direction away from said median plane.

6. In a crane as set forth in claim 4, said first limiting means including track means on said trolley extending in said predetermined direction, the guide members of said first set moving on said track means, and said second limiting means including two carrier members mounted on said trolley for movement in said predetermined direction on respective sides of said median plane and carrying said guide members of said second set.

7. In a crane as set forth in claim 4, the spacing of said two guide members of said first set in the second position thereof being substantially equal to the spacing of said associated guide members from each other when the guide member of the first set is in the first position thereof and the associated guide member of the second set is in the second position thereof, the spacing of said two guide members of the first set in the first positions of the same being smaller than said spacing thereofin said second positions.

8. In a crane as set forth in claim 2, said shifting means including two carrier members, each carrier member having a portion pivotally attached to said trolley, and another portion carrying one of said guide means for pivotal movement of the latter toward and away from the guide means carried by the other carrier member.

9. In a crane as set forth in claim 8, a pivot having a normally horizontal axis attaching each carrier member to said trolley.

l0. In a crane as set forth in claim 2, said shifting means including two carrier members, each carrier member being elongated and longitudinally movable on said trolley, and having a free longitudinal end portion carrying one of said guide means.

11. In a transporter crane for shipping containers, the crane having a horizontally extending boom, a trolley movable along said boom, and hoist means on the trolley, the hoist means including a plurality of tension members depending from said trolley in spaced relationship, winch means for retracting said members and for letting the same out, and engaging means on each member downwardly spaced from said trolley for engaging a container carrier, the improvement in said hoist means which comprises:

a. a plurality of guide means on said trolley adapted to engage said members for guiding the same in respective vertically extending paths;

. shifting means for shifting said guide means toward and away from each other transversely of said paths and for thereby shifting said paths;

c. a first set of two guide members mounted on said trolley in respective fixed locations, said two guide members engaging respective members of a first group of tension members and guiding the same in respective first paths thereof on opposite sides of said plane; and

(1. two deflecting members mounted on said trolley and respectively spaced from said first paths toward said plane, 1. said deflecting members being adapted to engage the tension members of said first group, and to deflect the engaged tension members from said first paths thereof into second paths nearer said plane than said first paths and on opposite sides of said plane,

2. said guide means including a second set of two guide members adapted to engage respective tension members ofa second group of said tension members and to guide the same in respective third paths on opposite sides of said plane and farther from the same than said first paths when said guide means are shifted away from each other by said shifting means.

12. in a crane as set forth in claim 11, the spacing of said first paths from each other being substantially equal to the spacing of said second and third paths on each side of said plane. 

1. In a transporter crane for shipping containers, the crane having a horizontally extending boom, a trolley movable along said boom, and hoist means on the trolley, the hoist means including a plurality of tension members depending from said trolley in spaced relationship, winch means for retracting said members and for letting the same out, and engaging means on each member downwardly spaced from said trolley for engaging a container carrier, the improvement in said hoist means which comprises: a. two groups of guide means, each including four guide means on said trolley, the guide means of each group extending substantially in a common plane spaced from the other group and being adapted to engage said members for guiding the same in respective vertically extending paths; and b. shifting means for shifting each of two guide means in each group relative to each other guide means in said group transversely of said paths, and for thereby shifting the associated paths.
 2. In a crane as set forth in claim 1, said paths jointly definIng a vertical median plane, and said shifting means including means for maintaining the location of said median plane during said shifting of said guide means.
 2. said guide means including a second set of two guide members adapted to engage respective tension members of a second group of said tension members and to guide the same in respective third paths on opposite sides of said plane and farther from the same than said first paths when said guide means are shifted away from each other by said shifting means.
 3. In a crane as set forth in claim 2, said shifting means including a shifting member movably mounted on said trolley, and motion transmitting means operatively interposed between said shifting member and said two guide means for simultaneously moving said two guide means toward each other and said median plane when said shifting member is moved on said trolley in one direction, and for simultaneously moving said two guide means away from each other and from said median plane when said shifting member is moved in a direction opposite to said one direction.
 4. In a crane as set forth in claim 2, said tension members including first and second groups of tension members, and said guide means of each group including first and second sets of guide members respectively engaging the tension members of said groups, two guide members of each set being respectively located on opposite sides of said median plane, whereby each of said two guide members of said first set is associated with one of said two guide members of said second set on the same side of said median plane, first limiting means for limiting movement of each guide member of said first set to a range between a first position adjacent said median plane and a second position remote from said median plane in a predetermined direction, and second limiting means for limiting movement of each guide member of said second set to a range between a first position thereof adjacent said median plane and a second position spaced from the second position of the associated guide member of said first set in said predetermined direction away from said median plane.
 5. In a crane as set forth in claim 4, the first position of said guide member of said second set being offset from the first position of the associated guide member of said first set in said predetermined direction away from said median plane.
 6. In a crane as set forth in claim 4, said first limiting means including track means on said trolley extending in said predetermined direction, the guide members of said first set moving on said track means, and said second limiting means including two carrier members mounted on said trolley for movement in said predetermined direction on respective sides of said median plane and carrying said guide members of said second set.
 7. In a crane as set forth in claim 4, the spacing of said two guide members of said first set in the second position thereof being substantially equal to the spacing of said associated guide members from each other when the guide member of the first set is in the first position thereof and the associated guide member of the second set is in the second position thereof, the spacing of said two guide members of the first set in the first positions of the same being smaller than said spacing thereof in said second positions.
 8. In a crane as set forth in claim 2, said shifting means including two carrier members, each carrier member having a portion pivotally attached to said trolley, and another portion carrying one of said guide means for pivotal movement of the latter toward and away from the guide means carried by the other carrier member.
 9. In a crane as set forth in claim 8, a pivot having a normally horizontal axis attaching each carrier member to said trolley.
 10. In a crane as set forth in claim 2, said shifting means including two carrier members, each carrier member being elongated and longitudinally movable on said trolley, and having a free longitudinal end portion carrying one of said guide means.
 11. In a transporter crane for shipping containers, the crane having a horizontally extending boom, a trolley movable along said boom, and hoist means on the trolley, the hoist means including a plurality of tension members depending from said trolley in spaced relationship, winch means for retracting said Members and for letting the same out, and engaging means on each member downwardly spaced from said trolley for engaging a container carrier, the improvement in said hoist means which comprises: a. a plurality of guide means on said trolley adapted to engage said members for guiding the same in respective vertically extending paths; b. shifting means for shifting said guide means toward and away from each other transversely of said paths and for thereby shifting said paths; c. a first set of two guide members mounted on said trolley in respective fixed locations, said two guide members engaging respective members of a first group of tension members and guiding the same in respective first paths thereof on opposite sides of said plane; and d. two deflecting members mounted on said trolley and respectively spaced from said first paths toward said plane,
 12. In a crane as set forth in claim 11, the spacing of said first paths from each other being substantially equal to the spacing of said second and third paths on each side of said plane. 